What language is spoken in Amsterdam? (Locals Guide)
Last Updated on April 9, 2024 by Lauren Allen
Heading to the Dutch capital and wondering what language is spoken in Amsterdam? Then you’ve come to the right place! In this post, native Dutch and fellow travel blogger Faye shares everything you need to know about the language spoken in her home country!
Amsterdam (AKA the capital of the Netherlands) is a city known for canals, bikes and famous museums. It’s a fun city to explore, but travellers often ask:
- What language do they speak in Amsterdam?
- Do people speak English in Amsterdam?
As a native Dutch, I’ll share everything you need to know about our beautiful language and other languages you’ll come across while visiting Amsterdam. I’ll cover the history, fun facts and much more. I’ll even share some words that you’ll only come across in the Netherlands!
By the end of this post, you’ll be fully clued up on the local language with my expert tips and tricks. Let’s get to it!
A quick note: This is a guest post from the lovely Faye from Travel Europe Like A Local – check out her blog for more tips on exploring Europe!
What language is spoken in Amsterdam?
Let’s get to the point right away, the main language in Amsterdam is Dutch. Dutch is the national language of the Netherlands, or as many visitors call it; Holland.
For centuries the Dutch capital has been known for its international trade and the influences from abroad that came with it.
Is Amsterdam a multilingual city?
Furthermore, it’s been a safe haven for refugees throughout time, but mainly during the 16th and 17th centuries. This means that for a long time, people from different backgrounds and cultures have called Amsterdam their home.
In fact, the beauty of Amsterdam (and the Netherlands as a whole) is how they welcome people from different walks of life.
The international identity has only got stronger. According to the website of Dutch Amsterdam; a study in 2014 showed people from 180 different nationalities live in Amsterdam. In fact, they make up an impressive 30% of the entire population in the Amsterdam metropolitan area!
As you wander the streets of the city, you’ll hear different languages everywhere you go. Aside from English, you will frequently hear Turkish and Arabic as they’re both large communities within the Netherlands.
Do they speak English in Amsterdam?
English is not an official language in the Netherlands. Don’t worry though, it’s the second main language and 90% of the population knows how to speak it.
People in the Netherlands learn to speak English from primary school onwards. This means it’s widely spoken and they’re typically happy to help when they realize you don’t speak Dutch.
One thing frequently mentioned by internationals in Amsterdam is that the hardest part of learning Dutch is the fact that their Dutch peers always immediately switch to English. This can make it hard to practice while going about your day in Amsterdam!
Moreover, many internationals have entered the Dutch job market. This includes the hospitality and retail sectors which means many of them might not even speak Dutch as their mother tongue, so they will help you in English anyway.
Finally, most businesses in Amsterdam have adjusted to the many tourists visiting the city. Whenever you book reservations online, websites will be available in multiple languages, including English.
This makes it harder as you’re not thrown in at the deep end like you may be with other languages.
Other foreign languages spoken in Amsterdam
In the Netherlands, English is the second language for most people, but many locals speak more than two languages. The majority of Dutch people also know the basics of German and 29% can speak basic French.
Aside from English, they are the two main languages Dutch students learn in high school.
Amsterdam dialect
Though the Netherlands is a small country, it has many different dialects. Some of them are older than our current Dutch standard language.
Nearly every region will have its own dialect and there are really significant differences in the way it sounds. Especially the north and the south of the country.
However, you don’t have to travel far to explore local dialects. Even Amsterdam has their own dialect. Many people would describe Amsterdams as a colourful variation of the Dutch language. A lot of their words originate from the ‘Bargoense’ language.
This language dates back to the 15th century as a coded language frequently used by criminals. In Dutch we often call it ‘the language of thieves’. All in all this interesting mix has resulted in many unique expressions for standard Dutch phrases.
Some people even consider the dialect to be comparable to what the cockney accent is to London.
Some basic sentences to learn in Dutch (AKA the spoken language in Amsterdam)
Although it’s easy to discover Amsterdam while speaking English, it’s always nice to know basic sentences as you travel the world. This allows you to greet people in their native language.
On your next adventure to the Dutch capital, give it a go and see if you can master the pronunciation, some of them look quite similar to their English translation:
- Hello – Hallo
- Goodbye – Tot ziens
- Please – Alsjeblieft
- Thank you – Dankjewel
- Where is…? – Waar is…?
- Left, right, straight ahead – Links, rechts, rechtdoor
- How much is this? – Hoeveel kost dit?
- Can I have a…? – Mag ik een…?
- Amsterdam is beautiful! – Amsterdam is mooi!
- Greetings from Amsterdam – Groetjes uit Amsterdam
If you found the above easy and want to spend more time in the Netherlands, you might consider learning Dutch.
The good news is, for native English speakers the basics may not be too difficult as many words have similarities. In fact, it’s often said that Dutch is the language most similar to English. That’s encouraging news, right?!
Is it hard to learn Dutch?
Learning a new language is never easy. However, it can be helpful if you plan on spending an extended amount of time in one country. Some of the challenges mentioned by foreigners learning the Dutch language are:
Pronunciation
Dutch is often hard to pronounce if you are new to the language. The ‘G’ and ‘CH’ tones are especially hard to pronounce. They are often described as ‘guttural’ sounds and it can take a while to get the hang of them.
Furthermore, we are known for the many consonants we can use in one word, making it difficult to pronounce. Some examples would be; Verschrikkelijk which translates to ‘terrible’ or angstschreeuw which is the word we use for a ‘cry of distress’.
There are too many irregularities
Though we have rules in our grammar, there are always just as many exceptions to take into account!
Order of words in a sentence
Depending on where you put the words, the meaning of the sentence changes. There are always various possibilities and this can be hard to master.
When learning any language, practice makes perfect. The best way to learn and improve quickly is to find someone native you can speak Dutch with on a regular basis.
Additionally, Friday afternoon drinks are a local tradition and probably the best moment to pick up some of the local slang!
Some interesting facts about the Dutch language
For anyone who loves stats and fun facts, this section is for you:
- The Dutch people call their own language ‘Nederlands’ in their mother tongue.
- The word Dutch sounds VERY similar to the word ‘Deutsch’ – which is the native word for the German language. Though they have many similarities and share the same history, they are definitely not the same.
- The Dutch language has been around for a long time and is nearly 1600 years old!
- The Dutch language is famous for its compound words, meaning you can combine words to make them into one. One of the longest words listed is ‘kindercarnavalsoptochtvoorbereidingswerkzaamhedencomitéleden‘ which would translate to ‘children’s carnival procession preparation committee members’.
- There are 23 million people across the globe who speak Dutch. 16 million of them live in the Netherlands. However, Dutch is also spoken in Aruba, Belgium, Curacao, Bonaire, Suriname, Saba, St Eustatius and St Martin.
- ‘Afrikaans’ is a sister language of the Dutch language and is still actively in use in parts of South Africa. Though many words are similar, the Dutch are unlikely to fully understand them.
Interesting words in Dutch
The Dutch have words in their language that do not translate well to other languages. A couple of them include:
- Lekker: It can be used to describe food as tasty and you can also use it when the weather is nice by saying ‘Lekker weer’ or when you are just enjoying a moment. We even say ‘nou lekker dan’ if something happens that we are not very happy with.
- Gezellig: This word has come up a lot over the years. It’s mainly used to describe a situation as cosy or to express joy while you’re with people you like. Spending time with people can be ‘gezellig’.
- Uitwaaien: Whenever someone is stressed or feeling a bit down, the Dutch will recommend going for a walk on the beach, heading out for a bike ride or wandering in the forest. Uitwaaien literally means, to feel the wind around you and let it take away your worries. From personal experience, I would say it’s one of the most effective remedies I know!
A bit of history about the Dutch language
As highlighted above, the Dutch language has been around for a while. So where does it actually come from?
‘Old Dutch’ is the oldest version of the Dutch language. It was spoken between the 6th and 12th century B.C. It was the language of the people who lived in the ‘lowlands’ which covers areas of the Netherlands, Western Germany, Belgium and France.
The oldest written sentence in Dutch that we know of is nearly 1000 years old and was written by a monk.
FAQs about the language spoken in Amsterdam
The main spoken language in Amsterdam is Dutch.
Absolutely! As so many people speak English in the Dutch capital, you’ll have no problems at all if you only speak English. However, if you plan on sticking around for a while, learning the local language can be a big help.
If you’re an English speaker, it’s generally considered easy to learn Dutch when compared to other languages.
Conclusion
To conclude, most people in Amsterdam speak Dutch and this is the official language of the Netherlands. It’s also the main language spoken in Amsterdam.
However, since Amsterdam is such an international hub and known for its excessive tourism, most locals speak English as well as other languages.
It’s safe to say that staff in restaurants, hotels and the top tourist attractions in the capital are fluent in English.
The same applies if you visit other areas of the Netherlands (which you definitely should). This is especially true when visiting popular landmarks that attract international visitors. All information and guidance is available in multiple languages.
If you’re planning to live like a local in the Netherlands, you might want to familiarize yourself with some basic Dutch sentences.
Like most people, the Dutch will appreciate it if you take an interest in their culture and language. This means that learning some of the basics may help you to make new friends more easily and it’s a great conversation starter.
Enjoy your next trip to Amsterdam, or as we say: Geniet van je volgende reis naar Amsterdam!
Do you feel clued up on what language is spoken in Amsterdam? If not, reach out with any questions and I’d be happy to help you out.
